The more you know, the more prepared you will be for a successful career in real estate! Visit a special rookie section of the IAR Web site in Members Only.
Diplomatic behavior in real estate. REALTORS working in the global marketplace often find themselves performing various types of diplomatic functions, serving as the bridge between two countries, two cultures and of course, the buyer and seller. A Web site designed to assist individuals in diplomatic posts can be a great resource for real estate professionals as well. eDiplomat.com includes a section on cultural etiquette around the world, with links to more than 50 country pages that detail etiquette on meeting and greeting, body language, corporate culture, dining and entertainment, dress, gift giving and more.
Questions your clients should ask themselves before choosing a specialty mortgage. Specialty mortgages (e.g., interest-only, negative amortization, option payment ARMs) are taking some heat for the recent increases in foreclosures. NAR has produced helpful consumer brochures that you can give your clients to help them find the right mortgage. Here are some questions consumers should ask from the brochure "Shopping for a Mortgage? Do Your Homework First: Specialty Mortgages Risk and Advantages."
Identity Theft Guide Updated from NAR 06-14-06 click here Keep your identity and personal information safe at home
and at work with the resources in the updated Field Guide
to Identity Theft. Read about the importance of keeping
client information secure and learn what to do and who to
contact if you are a victim of identity theft. To access,
Click
Here.
Identity Theft -
If the phrase "identity theft" conjures up images of evil plastic surgeons,
you need a crash course on what it is, how it happens, and how to defend
against it. Learn how to protect against Evildoers who want to invade your
privacy, run up a tab at your expense, or even commit crimes in your name.
Bob Rankin's 12-Step Program to avoid Identify Theft is here: http://askbobrankin.com/identity_theft.html
Preparing and Staging a House for Sale -
New from NAR's Information Central, a field guide on how to prepare a house for sale. Your members can get tips and tricks for sprucing up, decorating, staging, and creating a great first impression to sell their clients' homes. To access, click here.
Thriving in a Slower Market: New NAR Field Guide. Every market has its ups and downs, and real estate is certainly no exception. When a hot housing market begins to cool down, REALTORS, sellers and buyers all need to readjust their strategies and expectations. This NAR Field Guide offers tips and ideas to help you and your clients survive and thrive in a cooling market.
Do you have staying power? Learn ways to stay focused and stay in the business from the article "Staying Power" in Illinois REALTOR magazine archives. NAR research shows that staying power usually equates to higher earnings: REALTORS who have been in business for six to 10 years earned a median $58,700 in 2004, up 18.6 percent from 2002. Those in the business for two years or less earned only $12,850, and REALTORS with at least 26 years of experience earned $92,600, up 37.2 percent from two years earlier. Here are two tips for running your business like a business for staying power:
Pick a specialty and stick with it. No one should be a "threshold" agent (anyone who walks across their threshold qualifies as a client). Starbucks deals only in high-end coffees. Its marketing matches their niche customers and their environment is specifically designed for the upscale crowd. Agents should specialize too.
Check out the resources at the Small Business Development Center online http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/sbdc.htm and use your local chamber’s small business resources to develop a business plan and create a marketing strategy.
